Bead & Button Bracelet Tutorial {Waste Not Wednesday}

Last week, I briefly introduced the concept of Waste Not Wednesdays. Each week I'll be trying to make something beautiful or useful (both if I'm lucky) from my car-boot hauls, hand-me downs and from the leftovers of previous crafty projects. Just think of me as a modern day Womble.

I was planning to start with a completely different project, but I distinctly heard a plea for a something that would start to make a dint in our burgeoning button collections - and who am I to refuse?

You'll need:

* Buttons - I found shank buttons easier to attach, but any will work.
* Beads - Choose a selection of beads leftover from other projects, or fill with smaller buttons.
* Jewellery pliers and wire cutters.
* Headpins and jump rings - just a few.
* A 'charm' style bracelet or length of chain with sizeable links and a closure fitting.

1. Start by counting the number of links on your bracelet chain, then choose a corresponding number of beads and buttons. Lay them out along the bracelet chain - without attempting to fix them in place. Re-arrange the beads and buttons until you find the arrangement pleasing to your eye - it may help to start with a large focal bead or button in the centre. (As above.)

2. Open the central link of the chain using the pliers and attach the button directly onto the chain link by 'threading' the chain through the shank fitting. Close the link securely.

3. Continue to attach your buttons to the chain using the same method, leaving empty links between the buttons if necessary. (As in the first picture above.)

Tip - Sometimes, the shank fitting of the button may be a little too tight for the chain link to pass through easily. Don't force it through or you may risk damaging your buttons. Instead, 'thread' a jump ring through the button and then attach this to the chain link.

4. Once you have buttons attached along the length of the bracelet, try wrapping it around your wrist. Check the drape and 'fullness' of the bracelet and, if you feel that it needs extra beads or buttons, spread it out and decide where to add your extra beads and buttons.

5. To add your beads 'thread' the beads onto a headpin.

6. Using your pliers, form a loop at the top of your headpin and then snip off the excess with your wirecutters.

Tip - If you don't have any wirecutters, instead of forming the loop first, grasp the headpin firmly with your pliers about 1cm above the topmost bead. Bend the wire back and forth until it snaps. Now use your pliers to form a small loop closure.

7. Open the loop closure slightly and add the headpin to a chain link. Close the loop securely.

8. Continue to add additional beads and buttons to the chain until you are happy with the drape and fullness of the bracelet. Now sit back and admire your work.

And, would you look at that? After all that, there still seems to be plenty of pretty bits and pieces leftover. Ah shucks!

I'm hoping that you'll join me for Waste Not Wednesdays on a regular basis as there will definitely be more beads and buttons where these ones came from. And fabric. And cardboard boxes. And old jam jars. And....oh. Ahem!

I'd be grateful for any feedback or questions about the tutorial (and hints on what you have in your stash and would like to put to good use) and if you do have a go at making something I feature let me know, I'd love to stop by and have a look x